Gun to the Head
Reviewed By Ian Banks September 5, 2021
Author Keith Banks
Distributor: Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781761065125
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Release Date: July 2021
Website: https://www.allenandunwin.com
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My life as a tactical cop. The impact. The aftermath.
In his second book Gun to the Head, Keith Banks opens up a world of policing, corruption, bravery and challenge, based on his twenty years as a serving officer with the Queensland Police Force.
Each aspect of his varied placements in the Force look at the often complex, frequently overlapping areas of Policing in the 1980’s, during a time when corruption was endemic within the Force, all the way to the top and beyond.
Beginning his career as an undercover cop with the Drug Squad, he and a mate refused to be part of a lucrative ’sideline’ selling a portion of the confiscated drugs. They soon found themselves out of the squad, out of a job he loved, transferred to Taringa Criminal Investigation Branch, eventually reaching the rank of Senior Detective Constable, but found he missed the edgy, adrenaline filled life of undercover work.
As a part time member of the Emergency Squad, formed to deal with hostage taking and sieges, he and his mate Peter felt they were finally right where the wanted to be; right at the serious edge of modern day Policing. He eventually went on to become a formation member of the Tactical Response Group, facing off against some of the most formidable, ruthless criminals of the day.
This took a huge toll and it was not until he found himself on the verge of committing suicide, something not uncommon in those days and still to agree today, gun in mouth, finger on the trigger he began to realise he needed serious medical help. His marriage was done, his life a shambles and he either had to get it sorted out or leave what he loved the most, Policing.
Each of the chapters moves back and forwards through his years of service, each one detailing a case, an incident in the tragi-comedy that was often all part of a day’s work.
Thoroughly entertaining Keith Banks takes a walk back through a world of varied police work, throwing a light on the dedication of so many men and women who do enjoy the many challenges involved what they consider a normal day’s work.
Gun to the Head looks at the corruption that was endemic within the Police Force back in the day, at the people who perhaps should never have been in that line of work, but also at the many honest ‘çops’, of whom there are many, trying to make a difference in a world where violence is real and present threat, even on what appears to be a simple, straightforward call out.
Gun to the Head is a must read for anyone who is into True Crime or enjoys a very well-constructed, totally readable look at the history of Crime and Policing in Australia.